Chief Justice of India Surya Kant dismissed a petition filed by judicial aspirant Prerna Gupta seeking revaluation of her examination paper, during which he shared a personal story from his early days as a lawyer. The bench, also comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi, ruled against allowing the plea, with the CJI offering a firsthand account to counsel the petitioner on future prospects in the legal profession.

As Gupta pressed her case, the CJI recounted how, as a final-year law student, he had cleared the written test for judicial services but faced a shift in selection procedure following a Supreme Court judgment. The process began requiring high court judges to serve as subject experts with binding input, and he was scheduled to appear before an interview panel led by a judge before whom he had recently argued two cases.

The judge summoned him and asked if he intended to become a judicial officer. After CJI Kant affirmed his intent, the judge reportedly told him to leave the chamber, leaving the young lawyer shaken. The next day, the judge clarified his stance, advising Kant not to take the post, saying, 'The Bar is waiting for you.' CJI Kant said he skipped the interview and chose to pursue litigation instead.

Addressing Gupta, the CJI asked whether he had made the wrong choice, then urged her to look ahead and consider applying for superior judicial services in the future. 'The Bar has much to offer,' he said, as she left the courtroom smiling despite the dismissal of her petition.

The petition was formally dismissed without further relief, and no follow-up hearing is scheduled. The CJI's remarks are seen as a gesture of encouragement to young legal professionals facing setbacks in early career stages.